Thanks all for your patience during this complex construction project. We’re thrilled to be complete and see folks successfully using the new features in the interchange. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

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TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE: As of Oct. 2015, the new loop off-ramp from U.S. 26 westbound to Brookwood Parkway is open. This is a dedicated off-ramp just for travelers on U.S. 26 westbound heading for southbound Brookwood Parkway. The former westbound off-ramp is now a dedicated off-ramp just for travelers on U.S. 26 westbound heading for northbound Helvetia Road. There are now two off-ramps in the interchange, similar to the U.S. 26/Cornelius Pass Road interchange to the east. Remember: left turns are not permitted from these off-ramps!

Traffic heading south on Brookwood Parkway toward Hillsboro from U.S. 26 westbound must use Exit 61A.

Constructing a new westbound U.S. 26 to southbound Brookwood Parkway exit loop ramp

Reconstructing the westbound U.S. 26 entrance ramp from Helvetia Road

Widening the Brookwood Parkway overcrossing to accommodate additional northbound and southbound lanes over U.S. 26. Once complete, there will be two northbound lanes, three southbound lanes and a left turn lane on the bridge.

Adding sidewalks and bike lanes within the interchange area

Extending the northbound right-turn lane from Brookwood Parkway to the eastbound U.S. 26 entrance ramp

There were seven stages of construction

** Stage 1 compete(August 2013 through winter 2014):Work included building a new section of Jacobson Road to connect to Helvetia Road farther north and building a new culvert across Helvetia Road. Groveland Drive where it intersects with Helvetia Road permanently closed October 2013. Drivers heading to/from Groveland Drive can use Helvetia Road, West Union Road and Groveland Road. Washington County is in design on a project to reconnect Groveland Drive to Helvetia Road farther north. Crews removed approximately 160 small and large trees in the northwest and northeast quadrants of the interchange to prepare for widening and ramp work. The new connection of Jacobson Road and Helvetia Road opened in Feb. 2014. View a map that depicts the change.

** Stage 2 complete (winter 2014 through spring/summer 2015): Work includes widening Helvetia Road and Brookwood Parkway, building a retaining wall, widening the ramps on the east half of the interchange and installing new sign structures and bridge girders on U.S. 26.

Traffic impacts in Stage 2:U.S. 26 under Brookwood Parkway will be entirely closed for 1-2 nights while the new bridge girders are delivered and installed. During the highway closure, traffic will be routed onto the Brookwood Parkway off-ramps and back to the highway using the Brookwood Parkway on-ramps. Expect intermittent nighttime lane closures and daytime work behind barriers.

** Stages 3 & 4 complete (spring/summer 2014 through summer 2015):Work includes building new ramps from U.S. 26 westbound and widening the overpass.

** Stage 5 complete (through summer 2015): Work includes removing the former westbound off-ramp, completing work on the new off-ramp from U.S. 26 westbound to Brookwood Parkway southbound, and widening on Helvetia Road and Brookwood Parkway. At the end of this stage, the new on-ramp to U.S. 26 westbound, farther north than the current ramp, will open and the new off-ramp from U.S. 26 westbound to Brookwood Parkway southbound will open. The current off-ramp from U.S. 26 westbound will convert to use for northbound traffic on Helvetia Road only.

ODOT has obtained nighttime noise variances from the City of Hillsboro and Washington County. Residences and businesses adjacent to the project area may experience construction noise. A phone number is available for reporting noise problems or incidents requiring immediate attention. That number is 971-673-5239 (please note that this 24-hour number changed as of 12/1/15).

A Jobs and Transportation Act Project

The 2009 Oregon Legislature allocated $45 million in the Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA) to fund improvements to the U.S. 26 Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia Road interchange, which is currently overburdened, particularly during morning and evening peak commuter hours. Previous planning efforts have identified approximately $70 million of transportation improvements that would provide additional capacity, improve safety and access, and relocate existing local facilities to better accommodate the long-term function of the interchange. ODOT is in the early stages of project engineering and is working with the City of Hillsboro and Washington County to develop a project that meets the $45 million budget provided by the JTA, and that:

reduces congestion;

improves safety;

improves freight mobility; and

increases economic development opportunities, including job retention and creation south of the interchange in Hillsboro.

To view the January 2012 project newsletter, click here. To view the May 2010 project newsletter, click here.

The U.S. 26 Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia Road interchange is a locally and regionally significant interchange along the U.S. 26 Sunset Corridor. This interchange is a primary entry point to regionally-significant high-tech employment centers south of the interchange. The transportation challenge is heavy traffic from the westbound U.S. 26 exit ramp to southbound Brookwood Parkway during morning peak hours, and heavy traffic northbound on Brookwood Parkway to eastbound U.S. 26 during afternoon peak hours.

Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP)

Because ODOT is modifying the Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia interchange as part of the U.S. 26: Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia Interchange Jobs and Transportation Act (JTA) Project, ODOT is required to adopt an Interchange Area Management Plan (IAMP) for the interchange. U.S. 26 is locally and regionally significant in moving people, goods, and services through North Hillsboro and throughout the metropolitan region and the state. The U.S. 26: Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia Road interchange has been and will continue to serve as a major entry point to large high-technology employment centers based throughout North Hillsboro. The purpose of the IAMP is to:

Support the JTA U.S. 26: Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia Interchange improvement project;

Support the ongoing and future City of Hillsboro and Washington County transportation, land use, and economic development planning efforts in and around the study area (North Hillsboro); and

Brookwood Parkway/Helvetia InterchangeIAMP Project Advisory Committee (PAC)ODOT, the city and the county convended a Project Advisory Committee, comprised of technical staff, as well as five community stakeholder representatives. All PAC meetings were open to the public and time allotted for public comment. The PAC met for the 4th and final time on June 25, 2012.

ODOT held the first public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010 at the Ronler Acres Fire Station to introduce the interchange project to the public, answer questions and take comments. Thanks to everyone who attended. Community members dropped in to learn details about the project, including the project concept, purpose and timeline. ODOT held a second public meeting on Jan. 17, 2012, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Liberty High School Library. The following materials were available for review at the open house.

A third open house was held on June 25, 2012. A fourth open house was held April 11, 2013. A fifth open house was held Sept. 11, 2013 to share schedule and traffic impact information.

Feel free to use the contact information below to provide comments and ask questions. You can also request to be added to the email list for project updates. Read the project comment log for questions and comments that the project team has received to date (as of 8/29/12).